CANBERRA: Immigration Minister Chris Bowen is in Kuala Lumpur to sign off on the Federal Government’s refugee swap deal with Malaysia, the Herald Sun reported.
Bowen, who arrived yesterday, will formalise the deal with the Malaysian Government today.
Under the arrangement, Malaysia will take 800 boat arrivals off Australian hands in return for Australia accepting 4000 genuine refugees over four years, at a cost of $292 million to the Australian taxpayer.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hussein will sign off on the deal on behalf of the Malaysian Government.
Both governments are understood to have won the support of the United Nations, which had originally been concerned the agreement could breach international refugee rights.
Australia currently has more than 6000 asylum seekers in detention, from countries including Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq and Vietnam.
Malaysia had 25,600 refugees register with the UN Human Rights Commissioner last year to seek asylum, the highest among all countries where the refugee agency has offices. – Agencies